Physiotherapist – neurological injuries

Physiotherapist Mary Galea devotes herself to supporting the rehabilitation of people with neurological injuries.

In Victoria, more than 73,000 people have acquired brain disorders, caused by conditions including head and brain trauma, drug overdose, stroke, aneurism and progressive neurological diseases such as MS.

Galea was one of four finalists in the 12th annual BrainLink Women of Achievement Award announced on Wednesday.

The winner was Tania de Jong, who founded The Song Room.

Though unsuccessful in the BrainLink awards, Galea and her team have secured two grants for a five-year study to translate evidence from animal studies into clinical practice, particularly the importance of exercise for people with spinal-cord injuries.

The grants are $4.6 million from the Victorian Neurological Trauma Initiative and $1.2 million from the Lifetime Care and Support Authority in New South Wales.

“We’ve been able to engage all of the spinal units around Australia and New Zealand and will begin our first study soon,” Galea says.

“I hope this will become a solid foundation to see a change in clinical practice in spinal injury.”

After completing year 12, Galea was uncertain what she wanted to study. Leaving the decision-making to the universities, she applied for medicine, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and teaching, but was accepted to them all.

“I had just turned 17. I wish I’d had a gap year to think it over, but that wasn’t done then,” she says.

Galea graduated from a three-year diploma at the Physiotherapy School of Victoria. She upgraded to a degree course when the school became the Lincoln Institute of Health Sciences.

Wanting to further her knowledge, she looked into post-graduate studies.

“It became clear that very few physiotherapists had PhDs. There was no one to supervise me in what I wanted to do,” she says.

Professor Ian Darian-Smith, of the University of Melbourne’s anatomy department, stepped in to help Galea in her PhD in neuroscience, which looked at how the pathways that control movement are organised.

“During my studies there was a real explosion of inquiries into the brain, looking into the factors that could promote recovery from a stroke or spinal injury,” she says.

After her PhD, Galea became a post-doctorate fellow before being appointed foundation professor of clinical physiotherapy and director of the Rehabilitation Sciences Research Centre at the University of Melbourne and Austin Health.

Physiotherapists can work in pediatrics, women’s health, occupational health, neurology and intensive care.

“It’s not an easy course to get into but the professional opportunities are endless. Australian graduates are highly regarded around the world,” Galea says.

The role of physiotherapist is changing with the ability of triage people in emergency care to determine who needs immediate medical attention.

Physiotherapists are especially in demand in the public sector and rural areas.

“Rehabilitation is now recognised as a major promoter of nervous-system function and that’s very exciting,” Galea says.